The Olympic Peninsula- sketches

We just got back from an 8-day trip to Seattle and Olympic National Park. A long time ago I gave up bringing paints with me on vacation, as we always seem to be on the move. I'm finding that working with pencil and white paint on gray paper is more feasible- they're easy to carry and and quick to do. These are the best of what I got done- the top is Port Angeles, where we spent 4 nights while going to the park; the second is seastacks at La Push, Second Beach, part of the National Park on the Pacific coast; and the third is Point Wilson Lighthouse in Port Townsend.

Sketching the lighthouse.

Path to the beach- sold

Oil on panel, 6" x 14"
Everyone and their dog was at Tillinghast Farm in Barrington RI last night to take a walk. There was a photographer shooting pictures and walking on the dunes that had signs saying please don't walk on the newly restored dunes. And then there was me, painting. I decided to try a long narrow format for a change.

Sunset, Washington Bridge- sold

Oil, 8" x 10"
I started painting about a half hour before sunset, and 10 minutes later scraped it off because I realized I wanted to paint the big cloud that had just built up over the bridge. Then I painted as fast as possible until about 20 minutes after sunset when the light was gone and the gnats made it impossible to stay. For such little things, they can really bite. I imagine them as teeth with wings.
Email me for price.

Yellow house

Painted this morning in Little Compton, RI at Peckham's Greenhouse. Oil on canvas, 8" x 10".
Email me for price.

Sunset at Tillinghast Farm- sold

Oil, 8" x 10"
It was beautiful last night at Tillinghast, aka the RISD Beach in Barrington RI.
 Email me for price.

Sketches

A few sketches finished this morning in Providence. I didn't realize that the pen I was using didn't have waterproof ink- must check that in the future.

 And then, of course, a stop at the Coffee Exchange, and a few quickies there...

More puffy clouds

Oil on canvas, 8" x 10"
My fascination with puffy clouds continues, especially late in the day when everything takes on a warm glow. (Truth in advertising- the orange reeds aren't quite so bright in the painting, but I couldn't tone them down any more without losing warmth in the rest of the painting.) This was painted along Route 6 in Rehoboth, MA. Fun fact: Route 6 is the longest transcontinental highway in the U.S., going from Cape Cod to California.

And a quiz: When do no-see-ums become visible?
A: When they get stuck in wet oil paint. I pulled several off this painting when I was done.
Email me for price.

Cathy's camp...

...in Maine is a wonderful place. Mountain views, fresh air, hummingbirds. We went for a short visit and I came away with these sketches.

These antique fishing drop lines were fun to do, I just ended up wishing I did them in color. Maybe next time. These were done on Strathmore toned paper with pencil and gouache for the white accents. (The top sketch was done with a fine line Sharpie pen.)